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No. 620,87l. Patented Mar. 7, |899.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

MICHAEL MAHER, OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARY A. MAHER, JOHN MAHER, H. WV. MAHER, AND IV. J. MAHER.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,871, dated March 7, 1899. Application filed September 3,1898. Serial No. 690,224. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL MAHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oneida, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be af ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to thill-couplings, generally to that class wherein a quick-shifting shackle-bolt is combined with an antirattler; and it consists, essentially, of certain novel and peculiar structural features'and the general arrangement and combination of the various parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail, and pointed out in the claim.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a coupling of the type above mentioned which will be most effective in operation, easily and quickly removed and replaced in changing from thills to pole, or vice versa, strong and durable, and inexpensive to construct. This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved thill-coupling; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the locking-bolt, and Fig. 5 detail views of the wearplate and spring.

Referring to the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the axle, 2 the clip, and 3 the thill-iron, to which is secured the thill or shaft. The clip 2 is provided with the usual depending screw-threaded arms 4, by means of which it is secured to the axle by the bar 5 and nuts 6. The clip is also provided with the horizontally-projecting ears 7, between which the eye portion of the thill-iron is secured, said ears being perforated for the reception of the securing-bolt.

The numeral 8 indicates the securing-bolt, which is formed With a right-angled extension 9, carrying an arm 10 parallel with the securing-bolt. The arm 10 is oval in crosssection, but is cut away at its center to form a cylindrical portion 11, on which is mounted a wear-block 12, the bore of which is correspondingly oval, so as to permit the ready insertion of the arm; but when in proper position the arm is locked in the wear-block by shoulders 13 13, formed by the central cutaway portion engaging the sides of the oval bore of the wear-block. The Wear-block is provided with a curved arm 14, which bears against the curved surface of the thill-eye and with opposite-ly-projecting side shoulders 15, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

The numeral 16 indicates a double-arm spring, preferably made of wire, one arm 17 of which bears against the curved arm of the wear-block, keeping it in constant contact with the thill-eye with a yielding pressure. The other arm 18 of the spring is provided with a loosely-connected bail or yoke 19,4

which when the arm 18 is bent rearwardly and upwardly is hooked over t-he end of the clip-connecting bar, as shown. The doublearm spring has oppositely-'arranged coils 20,

through which passes the arm 10 of the securing-bolt. The side shoulders 15 serve to prevent the curved arm of the wear-block from becoming displaced when the coupling or uncoupling is being effected.

The application of the device will be readily understood without further explanation other than to state that when the coupling is made and theY several parts in operative position the securing bolt will be securely held in locked position without the aid of nuts. l

One of the principal advantages to be derived from the use of a coupler constructed in accordance with my plan is that the coupling and uncoupling can be quickly and readily attached and detached.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a thill or other coupling, the combination with a securing-bolt provided with a parallel arm having a cylindrical portion and 'locking-shoulders, of a wear-block mounted on the cylindrical portion, and a double-arm spring, mounted on said arm, having one arm bearing against the wear-block and the other arm adapted to be attached to the clip-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL MAHER.

Witnesses:

C. T. MODUEFEE, A. D. HAMBLIN.

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